A Review and Investigation of Aiming and Tracking Performance with Head-Mounted Sights

The ability to control head movements determines the performance of head-mounted sights. A literature review and the results of a number of laboratory experiments investigating head aiming and tracking performance are presented. The literature review (the results of which are included as a table) revealed that tracking performance may be degraded by in-flight conditions. The experiments measured the frequency response of the head tracking system and systematically investigated, under laboratory conditions, the effects on performance of some of the variables which may be present in an operational environment. These included off-bore-sight target angle, helmet weight, seating conditions, the amplitude and axis of target motion, and reticle size and shape. It was shown that these variables had a relatively minor effect on performance. It is recommended that the influence of other relevant in-flight variables, such as the restriction due to clothing and personal equipment and the effects of whole-body vibration, should be investigated.